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[SITUATION] · [ACTIVE] · [TECHNOLOGY]

11 clusters · 55 sources · 70 days · First seen · Last updated

Zcash implements NU7 upgrade and decommissions Sprout

Overview

The Zcash network has successfully activated the NU7 upgrade at block 3,543,405, a technical transition designed to accelerate transaction speeds. By reducing the target block interval from 75 seconds to 25 seconds, the upgrade aims to decrease confirmation wait times at exchanges, points of sale, and cross-chain bridges. For example, exchange deposit processing times could potentially drop from nearly four minutes to approximately 75 seconds.

The upgrade implements a Network Sustainability Mechanism (NSM), developed by Shielded Labs, to maintain the total supply cap of 21 million coins. While block production is faster, individual block rewards are lowered to ensure daily issuance remains constant. Furthermore, 60 percent of transaction fees are now removed from circulation to fund a reserve intended to support future block rewards starting around February 2031.

A significant consequence of the activation is the decommissioning of the original Sprout privacy protocol. The invalidation of version 4 transactions has effectively frozen approximately 12,224 ZEC, valued at roughly $15 million to $16 million, within the legacy Sprout shielded pool. While these coins are not destroyed, they are currently unspendable under the new consensus rules. Zcash co-founder Sean Bowe previously characterized the Sprout pool as “technical debt and a security risk,” though the possibility of future access via subsequent upgrades remains a topic of discussion.

This technical milestone follows a period of significant market growth in late 2026, where ZEC prices reached highs near $1,526 following the launch of Grayscale’s Zcash spot ETF (ZCSH) and the closure of a U.S. SEC investigation into the Zcash Foundation.

Entities

Zcash Foundation · Zcash · Project Tachyon · Grayscale · Shielded Labs

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

Timeline

  1. [TECHNOLOGY] 16 sources
    Zcash activates NU7 upgrade, reducing block times and freezing legacy funds

    Zcash has launched its NU7 upgrade, cutting block times to 25 seconds and introducing a fee-recycling mechanism, while simultaneously freezing $15 million in legacy Sprout funds.

  2. [TECHNOLOGY] 7 sources
    Zcash prepares for NU7 network upgrade on November 5

    Zcash plans to launch its NU7 upgrade around November 5, reducing block times from 75 to 25 seconds and introducing new fee mechanisms.

  3. [TECHNOLOGY] 3 sources
    Zcash to implement NU7 network upgrade on November 5

    Zcash will activate the NU7 upgrade on November 5, reducing block times from 75 to 25 seconds and disabling version 4 transactions, which will freeze remaining funds in the Sprout shielded pool.

  4. [TECHNOLOGY] 8 sources
    Zcash developers propose NU7 upgrade for November activation

    Zcash developers aim to activate the NU7 upgrade around November 5, which will reduce block times to 25 seconds but render funds held in the legacy Sprout privacy system unspendable.

  5. [TECHNOLOGY] 6 sources
    Zcash NU7 upgrade to freeze Sprout privacy pool funds

    Zcash's proposed NU7 upgrade will freeze the legacy Sprout privacy pool, making remaining ZEC funds unspendable despite owners holding private keys.

  6. [TECHNOLOGY] 2 sources
    Zcash launches NU7 update on testnet

    Zcash has activated its NU7 update on the testnet, introducing faster 25-second block times and a new fee reserve mechanism to ensure long-term network sustainability.

  7. [TECHNOLOGY] 8 sources
    Zcash activates NU7 upgrade on testnet ahead of November rollout

    Zcash has activated the NU7 upgrade on its testnet, aiming to reduce block times from 75 to 25 seconds. A mainnet rollout is targeted for November 5, following a developer decision on October 20.

  8. [TECHNOLOGY] 2 sources
    Zcash targets November 5 for NU7 protocol upgrade

    Zcash developers are targeting November 5 for the NU7 upgrade, which will reduce block spacing from 75 to 25 seconds and introduce a new network sustainability mechanism.

  9. [TECHNOLOGY] 10 sources
    Zcash price surges past $1,500 amid NU7 upgrade plans

    Zcash (ZEC) price has surged past $1,500 amid institutional interest from Grayscale and upcoming NU7 network upgrades aimed at reducing block times from 75 to 25 seconds.

  10. [TECHNOLOGY] 11 sources
    Zcash surges 189% following ETF launch and NU7 upgrade approval

    Zcash (ZEC) has surged nearly 190% in 30 days, driven by the launch of a Grayscale spot ETF and community approval of the NU7 upgrade, which includes faster 25-second block times.

  11. [BUSINESS] 2 sources
    Zcash price recovers above $800 amid NU7 upgrade vote

    Zcash price has recovered above $800 as holders vote on the NU7 network upgrade, which includes proposals for faster block times and changes to the issuance cycle.

Sources

ad-hoc-news.de · altcoinbuzz.io · altcoininvestor.com · ambcrypto.com · bitcoinbazis.hu · bitcoinist.com · bitnewsbot.com · bittimes.net · blockchainreporter.net · blocktempo.com · blogs.airdropalert.com · blogtienao.com · btc-echo.de · canceractive.com · coin-turk.com · coindoo.com · coinedition.com · coingape.com · coinpedia.org · cointelegraph.com · cointribune.com · criptofacil.com · criptotendencias.com · crypto-insiders.nl · crypto.news · cryptobreaking.com · cryptobriefing.com · cryptocompass.com · cryptoevents.global · cryptoslate.com · cryptoticker.io · dcforecasts.com · decrypt.co · detlionblood32.wordpress.com · ethnews.com · finbold.com · globalcryptopress.com · grenade.tw · it-boltwise.de · journalducoin.com · koinbulteni.com · kriptoworld.hu · merca2.es · mycryptoparadise.com · neweconomy.jp · news.bitcoin.com · news.trijo.co · newsbtc.com

This summary has been updated 12 times: see revision history